Holding China to Account, Part Deux

Canada is as likely to join the developing global cause of making China accountable for its role in the disastrous spread of the coronavirus as  Kim Jong-Un is likely to kick the bucket without a China-approved successor:

On Sunday, Australia‘s foreign minister, Marise Payne, questioned China‘s transparency surrounding the outbreak and demanded an international investigation. ...

U.S. President Donald Trump has also been critical of China’s handling of the outbreak, telling reporters on Saturday that the country should face consequences if it is “knowingly responsible” for the pandemic.

The call for an international investigation came just days after the city of Wuhan, China revised its COVID-19 statistics. On Friday officials in Wuhan raised the official death toll in Wuhan by 50 per cent to 3,869 deaths.

What could an international investigation reveal and should Canada take part?

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Sunday said that while it’s important to find out what happened, Canada’s primary focus right now is the safety of its residents.

“I think it’s extremely important that we understand exactly what happened and ask really tough questions of all countries involved, including China,” he said. “This is something that we need to pursue.

“But my priority right now and the priority for countries around the world needs to be doing everything we can to keep our people safe and make sure that we have the resources necessary to protect our citizens and get through this.”

Trudeau said that “will always be” his focus.

Is that so, Justin?:

Jan. 27: Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer asks: “Will the Prime Minister support observer status in the World Health Organization for Taiwan?”

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau‘s only answer is: “We continue to work with the WHO. We continue to work with allied countries around the world to ensure that we are dealing with this health challenge.” ...

Jan. 29: MP Jeneroux continues to press in the House of Commons, with three cases now in Canada: “Other nations are stopping flights in and out of China and introducing more rigorous screening processes. Is the Prime Minister satisfied with the actions of his government?”

Trudeau replies: “I can reassure Canadians that the health risk to Canadians continues to be low. We are taking all necessary precautions to prevent the spread of infection… Preventative measures are in place in airports in Toronto, Vancouver and Montreal, and we continue to co-ordinate with the WHO, with our international partners, to ensure that we are doing everything necessary to keep Canadians safe.”

**

In February 2020, the COVID-19 spread out of Wuhan China and around the world. More and more countries brought in strict border controls, including Taiwan, but in Canada federal officials and the Trudeau government argued strenuously against such border measures.

**

March 13: Justin Trudeau at his press conference in quarantine on Canada’s own open borders: “We will recall that a number of weeks ago in the beginnings there was discussion of whether or not we should entirely close our borders to China the way the United States did. We did not. We were able to manage it in a way that allowed for control and a non spread of the virus that gives us confidence that our public health officials are giving us the right recommendations for Canada.” ...

March 16: The federal government changes direction abruptly, with Canada closing its doors to the world by severely restricting international flights. The federal government advises all returning Canadians entering home to voluntarily self-isolate for 14 days. Prime Minister Trudeau also says all international visitors to Canada will be turned around at the airport, with the exception of Americans, diplomats and flight crews. ...

March 25: Olivia Stefanovich of the CBC asks Trudeau: “We’ve learned that sick Canadian travellers are masking COVID-19 symptoms to get through airport screening.

Why does Canada not test temperatures, screen air passengers for fever, or use thermal screening at airports? Should there be thermal screening and consequences for those who mask their symptoms?… Should there be consequences for those who mask their symptoms, and should these passengers also be forced to sign a document to make sure they self-isolate? How can you ensure that?”

Trudeau replies: “We know that people need to isolate when they land in Canada. They agree to an attestation on their processing when they arrive, that they will self-isolate for 14 days. That is an important thing. And Canadians with symptoms will not be allowed to board flights coming home. That is a difficult measure, I know, for many people, for many families, but we need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to keep Canadians safe.”

**

Cabinet acknowledges “challenges” in shipping pre-paid pandemic supplies from China. The Department of Public Works confirmed Chinese authorities imposed new export controls that delayed deliveries of vital equipment: “We are seeing export controls change.”

These challenges:

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says two planes from China were forced to return empty to Canada on Monday, without the protective medical equipment that they were sent there to pick up.

One of the planes was a federal charter and the other was destined for a particular province, Trudeau said Tuesday. 

Trudeau said there are limits to how long an aircraft is allowed to wait on the ground in China.

"Supply lines and truck shipments to the airports are difficult and interrupted by checkpoints and quarantine measures. For the most part, we've been able to navigate through those and ensure that Canada has received the equipment that it needs," the prime minister said during his daily briefing outside his Ottawa residence.

Forced?

I'm sure Justin meant to say (in front of his taxpayer-funded hidey-hole) that China shafted him and because of his undying devotion and "flakiness", he has let China order him about on the world stage.


So while there will be borrowed money flung around and empty promises of personal protective equipment that Canada will never produce itself, there will be no Canadian effort to question and eventually sanction China for what it has done to the globe. China has made it clear that it owns Canada and, even if Justin so wished, he has no sway with that paper dragon.